A Spotlight on Daphne and Waffles: Meet the Grand Champion Market Goat Winners at the Nebraska State Fair
Launch the media gallery 1 playerMeet Waffles: the animal-cracker loving, halter-free goat. A year ago, Leigh senior Daphne Jedlicka didn’t even show goats, just sheep and market steer. But that all changed in June when she started showing Waffles. After about only 4 shows with Waffles, he made a big appearance at the Nebraska State Fair.
If you were to ask Daphne about showing goats over a year ago, she probably would just laugh at you. She was dedicated to her sheep and had a good set rhythm to getting them done. Goats just weren't in that rhythm. Until Waffles came. Waffles was bred from the bloodlines of Poke the Bear and Blueberry Pancakes, the goat was named to match the breakfast theme running through Daphne’s barn.
Waffles learned fast in the barn. He acted more like a family dog rather than a goat. He jumped right up to the grooming stand and set up correctly. Waffles earned many animal crackers during his time in the barn for always being so good. He would also follow Daphne, who could simply open the gate and Waffles would run after her, halter free. Waffles would also sometimes greet guests in the garage or up by the front door of the house.
Behind the scenes of Waffles charming personality, there was a lot of preparation for Waffles and Daphne. While in the ring, people see the polished moments of Waffles, but Daphne saw it all with Waffles. He got fed three times a day all at certain times. On top of that he washed, dried, and used certain products to help the growth of his hair. Daphne said, “Almost every day showmanship was something else I would work on with him. This was every day, with a few days off, all through the summer up until the fair.” She also stated, ‘With showing a goat, yes, they are similar to sheep, but different in their own ways. Learning to adjust to that and showing the goat at his best ability is something that took a lot of extra time in the barn.”
All of this hidden effort led Daphne and Waffles to the Nebraska State Fair. During the Grand Drive Daphne and Waffles stood amongst exhibitors in the ring who have spent forever mastering their goats to be able to win Grand Champion. In contrast, Daphne was just hoping to place in the top 5, even though Grand Champion had always been her goal with sheep.
“Throughout the years I keep working my way up and through divisions to try and achieve that goal with my sheep,” Daphne said. “Doing what people work on for so many years in just one year is something that is very special to me,” said Daphne. She knew that she had to just take this one round at a time. Through the nerves Daphne knew she needed to try her best to make herself, Waffles, and everyone who helped her get to where she was proud.
As the judge approached Daphne and shook her hand, the whole arena filled with cheers, tears, and so many hugs. Daphne and Waffles took Grand Champion in market goats. She said, “My goal of the day was to be in the top five market goats. And Waffles did that. And that goal was accomplished with all of my family and friends right by my side. This moment was something special that I will forever remember and forever be grateful for.”
I asked Daphne if she could choose a song to represent Waffles,, what song would he be? Her response was “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard. She said this because she is always listening to any kind of music in her barn while working with her animals. Daphne also said, “During my first class the judge during the comments stated that he needs to win that class and that he is an “absolute gamer” from every angle, and I feel like that song can really go with those comments.”
The last thing that Daphne told me was, “Before I said goodbye to Waffles, he was surrounded by all the people that made it possible, and was being fed his favorite treats. I think he had about two of the single serving bags of animal crackers before he was too full and couldn’t eat anymore. This goat was something special, and I am forever grateful for what we accomplished together. Waffles wasn’t just a goat, he was a legend.”
Congratulations to Daphne and her market goat Waffles receiving Grand Champion at the 2026 Nebraska State Fair.